British authorities have announced that November will be the deadline for finalizing a deal on the country’s departure from the European Union.

Cabinet office minister David Lidington said Saturday that the EU and the United Kingdom should agree on a deal for Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc in November by the latest so that the deal could go through parliamentary approvals on both sides.

“This is not something that can simply be left to the 11th hour,” Lidington said on the sidelines of Italy’s annual Ambrosetti conference on European affairs, Presstv Reported.

The official added that London had a well-developed strategy for a no-deal Brexit scenario although it remained committed to achieving a deal and thought negotiations for such a deal should wrap up by November.

“We remain very much committed to getting a good deal and believing that that is not just the right outcome but the most probable outcome,” Lidington said, adding that Britain wanted a deal that satisfied all EU member states.

Britain is due to leave the EU at the end of March next year. Negotiations on a deal for future relations have been very tough and some have even warned that there is a high chance for the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal.

The government of Prime Minister Theresa May has been trying hard to sell its Brexit strategy both to the EU and to domestic critics. The EU has been critical of May’s plan to maintain some trade links with the bloc after withdrawal takes place. The critics at home have also slammed May for giving up too much during the talks.